Oscar Voting Begins Friday – Dear Academy, hear my plea

It is once again time for our For Your Consideration post to the members of the Academy. Online voting begins December 27th. The Academy has fortified its methods this year, making it easier for members to vote.

This is your chance to make the best case for contenders you think might not otherwise get recognized. I am going to make my case right now for one contender in each major category. These are contenders I feel passionately about. I’m going to skip Best Actress because it is my hope that all five of the leading contenders — Sandra Bullock, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and the frontrunner, Cate Blanchett are all nominated because they fucking deserve it.

But other than that, here we go. Dear Academy, hear my plea!

Best Picture#2 JC Chandor’s All is Lost. The spirit of cinema is about reinventing it year after year. How can do that when there is nothing new under the sun? You do i thy taking a leap of faith. Chandor could have done anything after he gained an Oscar nod and notoriety for Margin Call. He could have easily failed upwards by selling out, by doing what most young talented up and coming directors in Hollywood do – they go for the big paycheck. But he did the opposite. He made a moving meditation, a cinematic poem about life. Our time here is so limited. Life is an endurance test, as are most things worthwhile – love, parenting, artistic ambition. All is Lost gives you an hour and a half of silent contemplation, watching Robert Redford do what’s necessary to survive. It will stay with me long after this year has come to a close. It deserves to be named as one of the year’s best.

Best DirectorMartin Scorsese for the Wolf of Wall Street – it’s not for everyone. It is weird and wild and deliberately offensive. It is also bravura filmmaking of the first order. It is absolutely deserving of being recognized, as the AFI and Critics Choice and HFPA already have done. At 71 years old, Martin Scorsese should be slowing down, mellowing out and losing his fire. He has proven what a schooled director can REALLY do. It’s astonishing. In many ways movie are never about the darker aspects of human nature. They are about idealized versions of ourselves. Scorsese will always stand out for his refusal to adhere to something that easy. His films are about cockroaches. They are about failures, damaged souls, flawed antiheroes. Those stories are worth telling too, especially when you have his ability to really go there.

Best ActorRobert Redford, All is Lost. Really, SAG? What can you say about actors who don’t acknowledge something as difficult and splendid as Redford’s vulnerable performance? Who would have thought that Redford would need a push by the year’s end and yet, with the lack of a SAG nod that is exactly what he needs. It isn’t as though any of the five are expendable. The actors this year could fill ten slots easily and still have many more deserving names. But extraordinary is extraordinary. Here’s to hoping the Academy’s actors are more on the ball.

Best ActressSkipping (but if I had to pick an FYC it would be Brie Larson for Short Term 12)

Best Supporting ActorWill Forte in Nebraska – it is a subtle performance, no doubt, and he’s not a popular Hollywood actor, and he certainly doesn’t have a lot of the buzz right now – but Bruce Dern works so closely with Forte throughout in such a meaningful way Forte deserves as much recognition right alongside Dern. For such a funny guy he managed to play the straight man remarkably well. Matthew McConaughey had a great year – but he was at his absolute best in Mud. He would be a great choice for a double nominee this year with two completely opposite characters, and then when you add in his turn in Wolf of Wall Street – another impressive year from the actor.

Best Supporting ActressAmy Adams in Her. Poor Amy Adams – upstaged by Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle, then upstaged by Scarlett Johansson in Her. Adams is so effortlessly good in everything she does that her brilliance is often taken for granted. As good as she is in American Hustle she’s equally good, if not better, in Her, where she downplays the quirky, lonely, filmmaking friend of Joaquin Phoenix. Okay, so it’s a long shot. Of those who actually DO have a shot at a nod, Sarah Paulson in 12 Years a Slave is relentless in her monstrous portrayal as the plantation owner’s wife. She is every bit as good at being vile as Michael Fassbender and yet she gets none of the recognition.

Original Screenplay
It seems like this whole category is a For Your Consideration. While the Coens seem destined to be honored in this category, David O. Russell, too. Ryan Coogler for Fruitvale Station would be a great choice, as would Nicole Holofcener for Enough Said. But my FYC here is very long shot, Austin Bunn and John Krokidas for Kill Your Darlings. This little known snippet out of the immortalized life of the beat poets tells the rather scandalous story of murder and homophobia on the streets of upper Manhattan. It took ten whole years to finish this screenplay. It is challenging, meticulous, funny and brilliant. It doesn’t have a chance in hell at a nomination but oh how cool if it did. I really hate how films often get dismissed overall, even when there are elements to them that are noteworthy and in this case, it’s the writing. The writing. The writing. Kill Your Darlings is a film worthy of paying homage to Ginsburg and Kerouac.

Adapted Screenplay
I have to go with Daniel Destin Crettin for Short Term 12. It would be maybe the first Nicholl winning screenplay to win. It was made as a short first so that might make it qualified for adapted. But it could go into original and the FYC would still stand. What a young promising talent he is, also having directed the film. Its star, Brie Larson, gives one of the best performances of the year but the big standout here is, again, the writing. But if it does go original, Terence Winter would be my FYC for Wolf of Wall Street – every writer this year could go to school on this script – structure, dialogue, humor – it has it all. Uncompromising, brilliant, unforgettable…

ScoreAll is Lost by Alex Ebert — just unbelievably good.
Her by Arcade Fire – again, wow.

Tags

The Wolf of Wall Street is not only my favorite movie of the year, but one of my All-time favorites too and it’s gonna be really greate if the academy at least nominee DiCaprio, Scorsese, Winter and even Hill for this masterpiece. I realy want that Amy Adams win this year but it’s almost impossible to happen.

LPU

Hmm I disagree that Adams was upstaged in AMERICAN HUSTLE. She’s better than all the players, with an exception of Bale who is on the same level of brilliance as she is. I do not understand the raves for JLaw (and I’m a huge fan). Her accent is terrible and she sounds like her normal self in interviews. It’s not a bad performance, but it’s no where as lived in and real as Adams who is just amazing in Hustle. Please, oh please let her get a Best Actress nomination.

I know I’m in the minority here, but Amy Adams was the best thing for me in ‘American Hustle.’ Jennifer Lawrence is a firecracker for sure, but she’s actually a personification of what is missing about the film (there’s no attempt at really caring about the plot).

Adams, though, the woman goes through so many impressive hurdles that I would love to see her get a Best Actress nomination. How likely that is, especially with the five women that Sasha named in play, is another thing altogether though.

I would like to see some recognition for Frances Ha and The Spectacular Now.

KT

Dear Academy,

Please do not nominate all five of those old guard actresses in Best Actress. I love that older actresses are in the game and I’m not writing this because I’m decrying such great actresses doing strong work, just that it would be the most boring and frankly a lazy lineup on the part of the Academy. In no way should there be five previous winners in an acting category; last year’s supporting actor lineup saw many worthy performances be passed over for sake of celebrity. Other actresses this year need the spotlight an Academy Award nomination brings. The Critics Choice nominated Brie Larson. The Globes nominated Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Julie Delpy, and Greta Gerwig. Amy Adams, in my opinion, gives THE standout performance in American Hustle, with the highest degree of difficulty of the cast. Russell’s camera captures her as she has never been in a film. Do the right thing, watch these other performances, weigh the competition of the field, and DO NOT automatically go with the easy choice, big-name actors because they are who you know. Would you rather see Meryl Streep get her 18th nomination (a ridiculous number….also, the NYT calls her performance “fracting”) or have that spot go to someone who could use the recognition for future opportunities, for building a career, for films that may actually be good?

KT

^^^ And of course, there’s also Miss Adele who won the Golden Palm. I know I forgot someone.

edkargir

Fruitville Station for Bp, Bd, Best original screenplay , best actor and best supporting actress.
Best Actress Brie Larson – short term 12
Her best production design
Blackfish -Best documentary
Harrison Ford best supporting actors 42

Bryce Forestieri

Amy Adams, in my opinion, gives THE standout performance in American Hustle, with the highest degree of difficulty of the cast. Russell’s camera captures her as she has never been in a film.

Tend to agree!

Would nominate her in Supporting.

david

Best actress brie Larson (even though I thiiink she’s a lock)
Best actor Keith Stanfield he stole every seen he was in
Best picture I have 2
1.Short term 12
2,spring breakers

Yep, I’m pretty sure if Adams makes the cut it will be in supporting for either HER or AMERICAN HUSTLE…side note ? She will win lead next year for BIG EYES…you heard it here first.

notenoughtime

best supporting actor: Harrison Ford in 42
best supporting actor: Jacob Lofland (Neckbone) in Mud
best supporting actress: Melanie Diaz in Fruitvale Station
best supporting actress: Margo Martindale in August: Osage County
best actress: Amy Seimetz in Upstream Color (hidden gem this year)
best actress: Julie Louis Dreyfus in Enough Said

Zach

I’d better enjoy a FYC AGAINST certain contenders, since it’s easier to say who’s getting in for the wrong reasons than select one or two underdogs in each category. (And on what earth is Forest Whitaker’s performance in The Butler NOT expendable this year given all the strong performances? Is anyone besides Sasha actually going to predict Whitaker?)

At any rate, I don’t know if he’s ever an underdog, but I’m pulling for Alexandre Desplat for Best Original Score for Philomena. It seems like no one is talking about that score, and I preferred it to Gravity and 12YAS.

Prisoners for Cinematography since that’s the only chance it has left.

The Hunger Games for Costumes and Makeup since the first film didn’t get any nominations and the sequel deserves them. I’m not a huge fan of the series, but that Elizabeth Banks character is a hoot, and let’s talk about film-enhancing, character-defining costumes, hair, and makeup.

Monsters University for Best Animated Feature. I’m assuming it’ll get in, but the Golden Globe snub was disconcerting. I thought The Croods wasn’t that well received by critics. MU isn’t a masterpiece, but it is another Pixar gem and better than at least one of their actual winners (Brave).

Bates J.

Before Midnight – for anything… I just hope to see the legendary trio at the Oscars. 🙂

bd74

Oh, I forgot about Jake Gyllenhaal for best supporting actor in Prisoners.
Great performance, but he’s like the longest of longshots. I do not understand why he was utterly ignored by the precursor awards.

You won’t find my agreeing so much with Sasha very often. That’s a great list.

Some thing I would add.

Picture: Stories We Tell (yes, docs are films too)
Actor: Leo for TWoWS
Actress: Adèle Exarchopoulos (i actually spelled it right without looking. That’s how much she is in my mind nowadays.)
Sup Actor: Sam Rockwell for The Way, Way Back
Sup Actress: Margot Robbie for TWoWS
Original Screenplay: The Way Way Back (in fact, go ahead and find more things to nominate this for)
Adapted Screenplay: The Spectacular Now (ditto)
Animated Feature: just skip nominating for this. Anything other than The Wind Rises is a travesty.

KT

Amy Adams is the lead actress in American Hustle and deserves a nomination in the lead category. Not for supporting.

Olin

Amy Adams for actress in a leading role.

Amy Adams’ cleavage for actress in a supporting role.

m1

I’d better enjoy a FYC AGAINST certain contenders

Oh, right. Of course you’d enjoy this. Because this website is popular in part for disparaging movies that its commenters hate rather than championing the ones they like. Why am I not surprised?

Before Midnight, The Place Beyond the Pines, and Mud are really my major FYC’s. I would also love to see The Conjuring get Art Direction or Costume nods (possibly even Best Picture, as worse films have been nominated here before).

Raymond

Margot Robbie in Wolf of Wall Street!

She was so impressive in her first big movie role. She definitely held her own against Leo and under Martin Scorsese’s direction. She reminded me of Sharon Stone in Casino and Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas.

Pj

Amy Adams is the lead actress in American Hustle and deserves a nomination in the lead category. Not for supporting.

Amen. Adams isn’t supporting anyone in the movie. Hilariously out of touch that the same people keep beating that drum. Maybe if they beat hard enough Sony will listen! (despite Adams lead nods at Globes and BFCA comedy) Keep beating, boys!

Renee

Before Midnight
Before Midnight
Before Midnight
Before Midnight
Before Midnight

That’s the movie that needs and deserves the push.

Mark

What is #2 before all is lost’s meaning ?

Keil S.

Best Picture: Before Midnight

Best Editing, Score, and Sound: Upstream Color

superkk

please give fruitvale station some love. it should definitely be nominated for supporting actress but for some reason you are letting oprah hog up the spot. i will never understand that and you are making a huge mistake. it should at least be nominated for best pic, even best actor would be nice. thats really it.

Vily

I just hope that Leo gets nominated. We have seen enough bullshit from the Academy.

I’ve seen “12 YAS” THREE TIMES now!!!!!!!!!God, I hope “American Hustle” doesn’t “Argo” it’s way to the end. David O.Russell will see his career end if he beats Steve McQueen. What happened to Paul Haggis after “Crash” beat “Brokeback”? NOthing. NO-thing.

Messed up that bold thing… It was supposed to apply only to Sally Hawkins from Blue Jasmine (Supporting Actress), Ernest and Celestine (Animated Feature) and Young and Beautiful from The Great Gatsby (Original Song).

For Your Ever So Gracious And Magnificent Consideration You Splendid Gods Of Cinema Oh How We Worship You

Best Picture – Fruitvale Station (truly deserves mention but unfortunately seems like a long shot)
Best Director – Spike Jonze, Her (the movie has much better chances than Spike but that simply should not be the case)
Best Actor – Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis + Miles Teller, The Spectacular Now
Best Actress – Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
Best Supporting Actor – James Franco, Spring Breakers
Best Supporting Actress – Scarlett Johansson, Her
Best Original Screenplay – Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, This Is The End
Best Adapted Screenplay – Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke, Before Midnight
Best Editing – Paul Machliss, The World’s End
Best Cinematography – Luca Bigazzi, The Great Beauty
Best Art Direction – Elinor Galbraith & Richard Johnson, Pacific Rim
Best Score – Arcade Fire, Her
Best Documentary – Blackfish

Leonardo DiCaprio is long overdue for an Oscar for Best Actor. That may seem an odd thing to say about someone so young but it’s true. Let’s not forget that he came into most people’s consciousness as the star of one of the most Oscar awarded films of all time, TITANIC. Maybe he wasn’t instrumental in its greatness. Maybe everyone fell in love with the boat. And even before that he impressed in WHAT’S EATING GILBERT GRAPE where you recognized who he would become before most of us did. Role to role, film to film he has continued to hone his craft, while becoming one of the biggest superstars in the world. The box office totals for his films illustrate this over and over again. Who else in recent years has been a better ambassador for great American acting throughout the world? A world that he does what he can to save with his environmental causes that he quietly promotes. These are all good reasons to finally award one of the greatest icons of his generation. But…

The award for Best Actor should be awarded to the person who did the best job of acting in a single eligible film in a given year. So none of that really matters. What matters is the individual performance.

Leonardo DiCaprio, as famous as he is, had to convince us that he was this character Jordan Belfort. An incredibly self-centered and piggish man. He had to be believable first as an average young New Yorker filled with hope and ambition. He had to turn into a smooth operator who could silence a room with a sales pitch. The theater I saw THE WOLF OF WALL STREET in was just as silent. He had to then become a leader of a pack of wolves. Ever the salesman, ever climbing but slowly degenerating into a beast. All the while maintaining a charisma that has captivated movie fans for decades now. In fact he needed to draw on his charisma to convince his character’s victims in the film to invest their hard earned money and to keep the audience in the theater invested in a three hour film. And those hours flew by. Scene after scene we were with him all the way, never checking the time, never thinking about the world outside. The sequence that stayed with me and is probably the best out of this amazing performance begins at a pay phone and ends in handcuffs, “spinach” included.

He should have won an Oscar by now. In my opinion, that should have come for THE DEPARTED or last year in supporting for DJANGO UNCHAINED. But as I sat in the theater watching THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, I thought to myself, ‘This has to be the one. This is the role that will get him that overdue Oscar. Has to be.’ Maybe it’s best that he wasn’t nominated last year and that he didn’t win years ago for GILBERT GRAPE. He’s not a supporting actor. He deserves to win for Lead Actor. Has there been a greater leading man in the last twenty years? I can’t think of anyone who comes close.

I ask that you find space in the Lead Actor category for one of the greatest leading men of all-time who has delivered a fantastic performance at the height of an already stellar career.

Short Term 12, Before Midnight, Blue is the Warmest Color, All is Lost, Frances Ha. That’s for BP, BD, Screenplay, and the acting categories.

Gravity all the way though.

OT: A Separation, Margaret, Rachel Getting Married. Watch these movies and that is how an ensemble cast should work together. It’s all about give and take.

Christophe

Thanks Ryan! I thought I did what you said the 2nd time but apprently not, I did it several times before but I have to look it up every time so I’ll just write it down somewhere.

Opmaco

My most special FYC goes to Oscar Isaac for Best Actor.

I have no issue with Blanchett’s performance being actressy. It’s the actressy performance that I like. Watch out for Cotillard’s performance in The Immigrant next year. It’s a GRAND performance.

Q Mark

Best Picture: Short Term 12. In under two hours, you get a completely-realized world of several well-drawn characters and a glimpse into a completely different way of life. Brie Larson is deservedly being praised as the star but the film itself is a masterpiece.

Best Director: JC Chandor/All Is Lost. I completely understand why Alfonso Cuaron will be nominated and I believe he’s 100 percent deserving. What I don’t understand is why Chandor isn’t receiving the same kind of buzz for making a very similar film, albeit with less-overly stunning special effects. Gravity and All Is Lost are twin epics for me this Oscar season.

Best Actor: Michael B. Jordan/Fruitvale Station. With so many incredible performances this year, it seems that Jordan’s amazing work from earlier in the year is somewhat being forgotten.

Best Actress: Brie Larson. I disagree with Sasha on this one…not that the veteran favourites aren’t also great, but I’d nominate Larson ahead of everyone but Blanchett.

Best Supporting Actor: Jonah Hill/Wolf Of Wall Street. I’ve yet to see Dallas Buyers Club but for me, the supporting actor race is over and Hill should win easily. If Jared Leto’s performance is better than Hill’s, then Leto must deliver an all-timer.

Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins/Blue Jasmine. While Blanchett is deservedly getting so much praise for carrying the film and she deserves an Oscar, it wasn’t a one-woman show. Hawkins is a key figure in giving us some insight into Jasmine’s psyche.

Akumax

Dear Academy, hear my plea…

Best Picture: The Wind Rises
Best Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Best Original Screenplay: Gravity
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Breadly Cooper in American Hustle
Best Supporting Actress: Scarlett Johansson in Her
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Leonardo di Caprio in WOW
Best Score: Joe Hisaishi for The Wind Rises
Best Animated Features: The Wind Rises
Best Cinematography: Only God Forgives
Best Song: Coldplay, Atlas

Oh please , less of the high school ,drama queen theatrics or I’ll have to stop taking you serious …just state your case in a level headed , sober minded way , for christsake

Buford T Justice

Broken Circle Breakdown seems like an unusual movie , straight out of left field , that manages to be a meditation on life and an ode to Atheism that faces up to the painful reality , while celebrating the things that do indeed make life worthwhile …love , laughter ,friendship ,music , sex …the best things in life really are free

*****BEST SONG*****
YOU AND I AINT NOTHING NO MORE
FROM THE BUTLER
BY LENNY KRAVITZ
JUST SO WE CAN HAVE THE LEGENDARY GLADYS KNIGHT SING ON THE OSCAR TELECAST

phantom

I’m not saying Amy Adams isn’t the female lead in American Hustle or that she doesn’t deserve a lead nomination.

I’m saying that considering how tight the lead race is (consensus quintet) and how much success she has had in supporting in recent years, it is a solid assumption that if the Academy nominates her this year, once again it will be in supporting.

P.s. It just hit me : if American Hustle turns out to be an Academy darling, Russell could make history if once again he has nominees in all four acting categories. Lawrence seems like a lock and the Bale-Adams-Cooper trio definitely feel like viable surprises (6-7th places at the moment or something like that).

Deydou

One name : Leonardo DiCaprio !
His Tour de Force is THE Best male performance of the year period.

As of today, we’re not even sure he’s gonna be nominated. That only is crazy when you think he should WIN by a mile.

The HFPA will most certainly award Dern instead of Leo (I Hope I’m wrong) which would be a nonsense when you watch Leo’s Brandoesque Nicholsonesque DiCapriesque performance!!!

Redford and Dern are very good actors.

DiCaprio is Up there with Brando, Day-Lewis and Nicholson.

He should have been nominated for Catch me of you can, for Shutter Island, for The Departed and Django.

I wouldn’t mind seeing #MS. SALLY HAWKINS# garner the Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance in Blue Jasmine either.

[For both nomination and winning] Please make sure the Japanese animation ##THE WIND RISES## be nominated for Best Animated Feature; even better, please make it happen for this Japanese anime piece to gather by-winning the naked gold guy we virtually all of us moviegoers/bloggers/critics et al do love whether or not we do admit it. Yoroshikuonegaishimasu!

PLEASE DO WATCH as many films as possible prior to voting.

I love #Gravity’s visual effects#, too, but please make sure you get to watch other films, including #Pacific Rim#, #etc.#, prior to voting.

I haven’t seen AMERICAN HUSTLE yet. But if you saw it and really love it, please give it a serious thought to Best Directing effort as well (either for win or at least nomination for #David O. Russell# – that’s what I meant).
(Don’t listen to noise. The Fighter, SLP, American Hustle – these if you love so much might be mainly for the Directing as well.)

Last but not least, daydreaming aside, I wouldn’t mind getting some of the screeners for myself either xD [yeah right, like it would happen . . . . ]

JPNS Viewer

As a shrimp tycoon and self-made multi-millionaire and genius Mr. Forrest Gump often says: SHIT HAPPENS . . . xD, blunder [mistypo] also took place.
And the user name JPNS Viewer on December 27, 2013 at 3:24 am, is in fact no-one but me. Just saying.

Johan

I only have one movie I would like to highlight. As the son of a partially ethnic Chinese father who had to flee Indonesia to Europe due to the mass killings or otherwise would have been killed, I urge that the story of what happened there never be forgotten. That’s why I think The Act of Killing should be seen by as many people of the international community as possible.

It’s been named a forgotten genocide of more than a million people brutally murdered, it’s a “what if nazi Germany had won” story come true. And I see no other mechanism currently in place to prevent it from happening again than remembering history. The same people are still in power. The mass murderers are heralded as heroes and they will never be brought to court. In 1998 there already has been a repeat of mass violence and mass rapings against the ethnic Chinese. I hope a recognition by the Academy in the Best Documentary category would bring more people to see this movie and be aware of history. There are lessons to be learned.

And apart from the local geopolitical context, it’s a universal human study of the horrible crimes humanity is capable of, and more, capable of getting away with.

Bob Burns

Oh Academy Voter, remember the brilliance and humanity of Fruitville Station and Michael B. Jordan….

and everything Christine J said above about Before Midnight

SallyinChicago

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Song: Would you bleed for love

Paul8148

FYC

Best Picture: Blue Jasmine, The Wolf of Wall Street (really bookend of you think about it)

While their roles don’t munch the scenery, they carry their films on their backs and, by the time the films are over, we know these people. We understand their motivations, share their dreams, and empathize with their frustrations. The characters are not perfect and completely human and, I’ll wager, just as relatable to most of you as they are to most of us.

Two brilliant actors who you will be hearing from in the future , no doubt.

Chris

Harrison Ford. Best Supporting Actor for 42. The scene towards the end when he tells Jackie Robinson why gets me every time I see it.

Josh

Best Picture: The Conjuring. It’s extremely rare that horror movies are seen as ‘awards worthy’ but this was a movie that was off the charts popular not only with audiences but critics alike.

Best Actor: Oscar Isaac.

Best Supporting Actress: Carey Mulligan. Maybe I have a friendly platonic crush on her but I loved her in Inside Llewyn Davis. I could also make a case for Lily Taylor in The Conjuring here.

Best Supporting Actor: John Goodman. He’s putting together quite an impressive resume the past few years with The Artist, Argo, and now Inside Llewyn Davis. I’d love to see him honored.

and @phantom, I said that about Adams and Big Eyes a month ago, so you aren’t first. 😉

Kane

While there was much to love about Upstream Color (Amy Seimetz, the cinematography, the musical score) there was nothing better than the editing. It is definitely in the top 5 edited films of the year, or at least that I’ve seen. In a perfect world this would have nominations for score, original screenplay and editing.

Bryce Forestieri

Best Art Direction – Elinor Galbraith & Richard Johnson, Pacific Rim

Great call. Never-ending treasures!

Bryce Forestieri

Supporting Actor: Rob Reiner (Wolf of Wall Street)

Inspired! THE EQUALIZER!!

Judd G. Mao

Very much with Ms. Stone in all her pleas EXCEPT for: Will Forte in Supporting. Forte was the weakest link in “Nebraska”—underplaying to seem naturalistic, brandishing an elastic mug wrenched into something oddly brittle and patently false whenever asked to simply exude stillness. The wryness that is within his capacity (reference his bravura turns on SNL) is magical when conjured, but Forte is not a dramatic actor and his overrated turn ranks right up there with June Squibb’s, the difference being that she goes the other extreme and overplays to the point of exasperation. (She is never less than attention-grabbing, spry and feisty, but you see her guns being unholstered long before she moves in for the big payout—in other words, her technique—all bellowed cheeks and furious movement, telegraphs intent in the grand manner that is not ever resorted to by the truly great. If Judi Dench had had this role, the beauty would be in the sense that the screen might buckle with the mere shift of her glance.) Now, Bruce Dern is masterful and lovely in lead but the other players and the story never coalesce around him. And the black and white treatment only lends an air of enervation to the mixed bag proceedings. To these eyes, Payne has never soared higher than with the dream cast assembled for his magnificent “Election.”

david

Will Vanessa hudgens qualify for her performance in gimme shelter???

Sammy

Do not forget Harvey…The Butler will make the cut for BP list. Oprah Winfrey will also be nominated.

rufussondheim

I haven’t seen enough to go beyond Sarah Paulson in 12 Years.

Kane

Sammy, with so few nominations for best picture it’ll be hard for The Butler to crack the top 10 (or top 9). Then again The Blind Side got in with nary a bp nom as did Extremely Loud. Never say never I suppose.

Amy

Adele Exarchopoulos. Absolute best performance of the year. Period. Unbelievably raw, brazen, no room for error. Haunts you long after the credits rolled. Her performance is a thousand fold better than last year’s winner JLaw in Silver Linings. Seriously, it’s a joke to even compare. Too bad that Blue is too controversial for the Academy. I wish it would get a nomination at least, but doesn’t look like it.

g

I was going to beg for Daniel Bruhl from Rush but he seems destined to be nominated now:)

So instead I’m going to beg for lake bell from in a world and Brie Larson from short term 12.

Jerry Grant

Blackfish has already done a lot of good, and I sincerely hope it keeps up the conversation about whale treatment (but more so, animal cruelty more broadly).

However, if we are to cite a documentary that shows us humanity and which has literally changed social and political conversations, Blackfish pales in comparison to The Act of Killing. The Act of Killing will go down in history as one of the longest-lasting legacies of the documentary form. It has compelled Indonesia to talk about its past and present. It is itself an artful object of infinite fascination. No contest whatsoever.

al

was anyone bothered at all by leonardo dicaprio playing at times in the movie a 22 year old

Ryan, is it possible […] to correct my blunder which resulted in the display of a different AD avatar, comments posted at Dec. 27, 2013 3:24 am, from my regular quasi-trademark facade, that is, the immediate adjacent one (by making it the same old one in both of my back-to-back comments)? Would appreciate your rectification.

Best Picture: Short Term 12
Best Director: Paolo Sorrentino (he Great Beauty)
Best Actor: Miles Mikkelson (The Hunt)
Best Actress: Bree Larson (Short Term 12)

Also some serious attention for:

Blue is the Warmest Color
To the Wonder
The Hunt
Wadjda
Nebraska
Beyond the Hills
Bridegroom
The Act of Killing

12 YEARS A SLAVE and HER seem to be holding down my Numbers 1 and 2 at this point (need to see THE PAST over the weekend) but in the spirit of this post, I wanted to draw attention to some other films in my top ten and performances that richly deserve attention.

I agree with Sasha Stone on THE WOLF ON WALL STREET. Yeah it could be seen as over-the-top and disturbing, and I felt guilty for choosing it as the Christmas day family film with all that nudity (my kids are 17, 16, 14, 12 and 11) but in another sense it is sensational filmmaking.

Di Caprio also deserves serious attention for his terrific performance.

Not to be nitpicky; actually, it has yet to be fixed – I guess, with an editor’s privilege, you’ve simply had it rectified by editing a reader’s accidental e-address to make it the right one that corresponds with the desirable image. (my first comment, the one with a huge wall of text — it’s now turned into a green one instead [lol]).

Just leave it like that : ) or if you’d like, please fix it again; either way, it’ll be fine. Thanks for the previous effort regardless!

Ridley

Amy Adams in Her is everything she wasn’t in American Hustle: subtle, real, lovely. She did something great with what could have been a nothing role and would love to see her get recognized for it, not for an overdone, dubious-accented thief who screams on a toilet.

joe

Picture
Fruitvale station

Director
Peter jackson- desolation of smaug was his best film
Paul greengrass for captain phillips. What a film.
Ryan coogler for fruitvale station

Original score
randy newman for monsters university
Arca de fire for her
T bone burnett for inside llewyn Davis
Hans zimmer for 12 years of a slave

Sammy

I would vote for Arcade Fire in the category of Original Score.

KT

Peter Jackson’s best movie the Desolation of Smaug? WHAT?!? That one represents his worst tendencies. You need to rewatch his oeuvre. Personally it’s Fellowship of the Ring, which is just fantastic cinema. I just watched Heavenly Creatures and boy was that a striking and disturbing film under strong direction. And what a debut performance by Kate Winslet, stunning.

Tim

Supporting Actress is too packed this year. I haven’t seen Nebraska, so I can’t comment on Squib, but I would love to see Octavia Spencer, Sally Hawkins, and Sarah Paulson each make the list. Add Lupita Nyongo and I’d be completely content. Julia Roberts, June Squib, Jennifer Lawrence, and Oprah will all likely make the list though with Nyongo.

hernan

Picture: BLUE JASMINE and BEFORE MIDNIGHT

Director: Richard Linklater (BEFORE MIDNIGHT)

Supp. Actress: Sally Hawkins (BLUE JASMINE)

Supp. Actor: Jake Gyllenghall (PRISIONERS)

Original Screenplay: MUD

Original Score: HER

Cinematography: SPRING BREAKERS and STOKER

Sound Ed.: THE CONJURING

Jane

DICAPRIO. He’s gotten the best reviews of any actor this year. If they snub him again I’m done with the Oscars,

Evandro Lannuci

AMPAS, PLEASE, HEAR MY PLEA, TOO:

– STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS for BEST SOUND MIXING, BEST SOUND EDITING and BEST VISUAL EFFECTS! It’s the best popcorn movie of the year, and it did really good in these categories!;

– THE CROODS for BEST ANIMATED MOVIE and BEST SCORE (a great job by Alan Silvestri);

– BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR for BEST ACTRESS (ADÈLE EXARCHOPOULOS) and BEST ADAPTED SCRENPLAY. What a great job of the screenplay and this young and promising actress!;

– MAN OF STEEL for BEST SOUND MIXING and BEST SOUND EDITING, even if it was not taken under consideration for best visual efffects, which was missed for evedybody;

– JOHN GOODMAN for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR in INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIES (it’s really overdue and I think he deserves a nomination for this installment by the Coen bros.;

– BLUE JASMINE also for BEST SUPORTING ACTRESS: SALLY HAWKINGS! I’m cheering for her, and the movie also for BEST PICTURE and BEST ORGIINAL SCREENPLAY (WOODY ALLEN!).

– THE GREAT GATSBY also for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (great job by SIMON DUGGAN!);

And finally: THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, also for BEST SOUND MIXING.

I hope, GREAT GOD, like everybody here, my plea will be listened! Waiting for comments by everybody, please!

David Casademunt

BEFORE MIDNIGHT please!!

Picture, director, actor and actress!!

Jim

Dear Academy, PLEASE don’t default to the five expected nominees. Not when Brie Larson, Adele Excharpolous, Julie Delpy, and Amy Adams gave the performances they did. I still think Blanchett was the best of the year, but these are the four names I want to see beside her.

Don’t ignore Oscar Isaac giving one of the finest performances of the year just because bigger names had showier roles.

And if you REALLY want to delight me, let john goodman into the supporting race.

Al Robinson

Dear AMPAS voters,

Please let this be the 10, yes 10, for Best Picture

12 Years a Slave
All Is Lost
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Rush
The Wolf of Wall Street

Then, please have the guts to give Best Picture to either Gravity, or The Wolf of Wall Street.

Perry

Dear Academy, please don’t ignore Before Midnight. It deserves a place in the best picture, best director and best Actress categories for sure. Also, remember Desplat’s score for Philomena. Lastly, please nominate Fruitvale Station for something (original screenplay and supporting actress, at least).

JPNS Viewer, Can you tell me what the problematic comment says? Just a few words. I just cant find the one that went wrong.

brendam

Dear academy, I will made little reminds for you listen to me:

Remember the time when ‘last tango in paris’ was high e provocative? If you vote for Blue is the warmest color on picture, director, actress, sup. actress, adapted screenplay an editing, you will have the same feelings of your old pals.

Don’t forget The Hunt for picture, original screenplay and best actor. Don’t worry: there’s no Lars Von (Hitler) Trier on the making of this masterpiece.

Before midnight for picture, actress and adapted screenplay if you believe in movies yet.

Kate Winslet for best actress, and you will crown meryl streep sucessor with this beautiful record (most youngest actor with more nominations in history).

Oscar Isaac for best actor and let the ‘A’ list try once more.

All is lost for picture, original screenplay, actor, cinematography and editing and remind us how is do the best without hear what others think.

Surprise us with blackfish and prepare for been pal of greenpeace.

Alfredo

Dear Academy,

Please, please do not forget to nominate The Wolf of Wall Street for ALL MAJOR CATEGORIES.

Also Sarah Paulson in 12 Years A Slave was magneificent and deserves to be recognized with a nomiation.

Ruth

Really hoping that Fassbender and Sally Hawkins finally get Oscar nominations. Also would love to see Blanchette finally win a lead Oscar.
I am also a fan of the 4 olds and 1 new in Best Actress (preferably Larson).

All is Lost, Her, Captain Phillips and Wolf of Wall Street all fitting into Best Picture nominations would also be excellent.

I was disappointed that Singapore’s Ilo Ilo missed out in Foreign Language. Anthony Chen is a real talent to keep an eye on. Snubbing this film will look ordinary in future years. Ilo Ilo is the most snubbed film of 2013 on the American awards circuit.

Documentary is a really cool category this year, I think we all want several films to make. The Act of Killing, Stories We Tell, Leviathan, Blackfish and a host of others will make 2013 a banner year in this category.

Ruth

Also, DiCaprio and Before Midnight nods would be awesome.

Jerry Grant

My FYC requests for nominations:

Picture- All Is Lost
Director- JC Chandor, All Is Lost
Actor- Leonardo DiCaprio, Wolf of Wall Street or The Great Gatsby
Actress- Amy Adams, American Hustle (over Emma Thompson or Sandra Bullock, as great as they are)
Supp. Actor- Jonah Hill, Wolf of Wall Street
Supp. Actress- Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station, or Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Orig. Screenplay- JC Chandor, All Is Lost
Adap. Screenplay- Richard Linklater, et al, Before Midnight (I haven’t seen it yet; but I love love love this series, and they haven’t received any recognition, and I really admire Linklater’s willingness to experiment and and make missteps)

Long story short, this awards game won’t get any less interesting – or crowded – anytime soon.

S

The Butler for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Sup. Actress, & Original Screenplay.

It’s sad to see this masterpiece being under-appreciated and now almost forgotten at awards season. It provides an important perspective of recent American history and Lee Daniels expertly draws out tensions regarding controversial aspects of how to understand them (Was non-violent resistance really the best way to go?) without attempting to answer the questions or judge the characters (and therefore the real people whose experiences inspired the creation of these characters) who decide which is the right the way for them. Maybe not as important as “12 Years a Slave” but in many ways more thought-provoking and since the Academy usually likes entertainment value over harsh, gritty realism, “The Butler” is perfect middle ground that tells a story of our nation’s shameful past powerfully and believably yet with much hope and inspiration.

Bryce Forestieri

Phantom,

I hope QUEEN OF THE DESERT comes out in 2014. Currently in production. If I only take into consideration the performances and not the films in general, that’s gotta be my number one from your list. Runner-ups would be Rachel McAdams (THE MOST WANTED MAN) supporting, I think? Jessica Chastain (ELEONOR IGBY and MISS JULIE), definitely lead in both, and Reese Witherspoon (INHERENT VICE) though that might be supporting, I haven’t read the book, but I’m planning to before the film comes out.

Also would like to add Julianne Moore and Mia Wasikowska in David Cronenberg’s MAPS TO THE STARS. Excited about that too, as always.

rufussondheim

KT, Heavenly Creatures is utterly awesome as a film, it blends character and fantasy sequences seamlessly in a way that makes sense. It’s not remotely indulgent. And it works excellently as a thriller as well. In many ways, it’s perfectly executed.

My favorite part, which haunts me way too often, is when on the morning of the murder, they encourage Lynskey’s mom to cheat on her diet. Really a cold and scary moment.

rufussondheim

phantom, it’s obviously way too early to know which of your Best Actress possibility films will hit and miss (last year almost all of us were thinking Naomi Watts would finally win this year) but one I have really high hopes for is Anna Kendrick in The Last Five Years. Her part is just dynamite and will allow her to express a wide variety of emotions all while singing. Kendrick has a strong theatrical background so we know she has the chops.

Yeah, the show could adapt poorly for the screen (directed by Richard LaGravenese who doesn’t have a very strong resume) but since there are only two characters, she will be front and center (especially since she has the opening and closing song, both of which break your heart)

Throw in the fact that she has a showcased role in Into the Woods (Cinderella) she will have a major presence in the upcoming year.

I am not 100% certain of it, but I think she’s a strong contender in one of the two parts.

(And, yes, this is my “out on a limb” prediction that I make every year (my last two Hugo and Lupita Nyong’o were pretty good!) so hopefully you’ll bump her up towards the top of your list and some people of note might start buzzing!)

rufussondheim

WIth that said, on my second readthrough I saw that Jessica Chastain is doing Miss Julie. Boy, if that film works, the award is all hers.

FilmFatale

“Would nominate her in Supporting”

Amy Adams brilliant turn in American Hustle is in no way supporting, at all. She is the female lead in the ensemble and the character on whom both men’s fates turn. She has the richest and most complex role in the film and it is with complete certainty the female lead role.

Zacpdubs
Its good to see someoneelse going to bat for short term 12 I think Larson will get an Oscar nomination it should get a best picture nom Keith Stanfield for either best supporting actor or original song

zacpdubs

David,
Glad to find someone with as much passion for the film as myself. I wish Sundance wouldn’t have rejected the film, because they probably would’ve gotten a much bigger distributor there as opposed to SXSW. But we’ll see how much the disposable money of a distributor really matters soon.

phantom

Bryce Forrestieri

Wasikowska may end up in lead (though she already has Tracks there) but based on the synopsis, Havana (Moore) feels like a textbook supporting role.

rufussondheim

Oh, there was no ranking, basically I just listed the most obvious possibilites without any order. For what it’s worth I think in the end the Academy will see “red” : Amy Adams vs. Jessica Chastain. Needless to say, just a crazy early hunch.

P.S. Kudos for the Nyong’O call, I remember when you did it around a year ago, this is usually the time during every awards season when i get restless and start nagging people to look at the NEXT season 🙂

Andy

Watched Blackfish last night…..wow.

And although I haven’t seen Her or American Hustle yet, Amy Adams is always underrated.

rufussondheim

I agree with the Amy Adams call, she’s been pretty darn good at picking roles the last few years, and she’s enormously talented. I think she should have won for The Fighter a couple years ago but for some reason they liked Melissa Leo, a performance I didn’t find that impressive in the scheme of things (Adams was the only thing I liked in the film).

But, damn, the part of Miss Julie in the Strindberg play is stage legend. It’s probably the best part ever written for a woman before Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee came along. If the film works it will propel Chastain to the forefront and Colin Farrell will get a nomination too.

david

Please nominate “The Bling Ring” for something!!!!! Was holding out hope for a nomination for Emma Watson or Katie Chang

Bryce Forestieri

But, damn, the part of Miss Julie in the Strindberg play is stage legend. It’s probably the best part ever written for a woman before Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee came along. If the film works it will propel Chastain to the forefront and Colin Farrell will get a nomination too.

Don’t nearly know enough about theater, but going to say I agree. It’s a fucking great part. I have high confidence in Liv Ullman. She understands plays (duh), and I bet she gets Strindberg as well as anyone else in the world right now (Bergman-connection), Also based on her previous films. It’ll be set in Northern Ireland so I don’t know about that. It’ll be very controlled, very stagy, stark, and it won’t be “opened-up” which for me is the best way to go. She’s not a bad director at all, and has put together a great crew. Michal Leszczylowski who worked for her in PRIVATE CONFESSION and has since then edited a couple of Lukas Moodysson’s and films. Mikhail Krichman who has shot all three Zvyagintsev, chief among them THE RETURN. I expect she’ll use pre-existing music. The rest of the designers are old pros with great credits. Exited for Farrell.

david

Bryce Forestieri
One of the movies I’m looking forward to in 2014 is ‘gimme shelter’ it features a stunning performance by Vanessa Hudgens!!!! U think she has a shot at a best actress nomination next year???

Sato

AMY ADAMS in Actress in a Leading Role
LEONARDO DICAPRIO in Actor in a Leading Role
MARTIN SCORSESE in Directing
SOFIA COPPOLA in Adapted(?) Screenplay of “The Bling Ring”

parker

Best Actress
Skipping (but if I had to pick an FYC it would be Brie Larson for Short Term 12)

I’m not sure that’s the best way to start your revolution against the vanishing stories of women, Sasha.

JPNS Viewer [Ryan, thanks re my fav avatar]

“JPNS Viewer, Can you tell me what the problematic comment says? Just a few words. I just cant find the one that went wrong.” — @Ryan, Thanks for going out of your-way-again. I appreciate it, Ryan. Re the different avatar, I’ve just come here to check out some readers’ comments and spotted yours as shown above. However, now that I have seen that my blunder was fixed, this time correctly so implemented, the happy ending having finally ensued a la Life Is Beautiful, The Artist, etc., I’m therefore a happy banana-man once anew. XD (Un-useless Trivia: I guess you’d put in my second email address for the first-attempted correction — the one with a certain number at the rear end of the username — instead of the now-defunct (first) phrase (one save for any number), one with this my favorite, red-faced avatar; thus the green avatar coming into play despite the […] effort. [I remember informing both AD editors following my receiving an AD award, that my first e-mail address, the one with my favorite avatar, is invalid now for one certain reason; so, it should all make sense as to why the green one showed up later as an attempt […]] Anyway, thanks again.)

daryl MF dixon

Sasha, I don’t understand how you can plea only for Scorcese’s nomination but not for DiCaprio’s since DiCap IS the movie. He stands a very good chance not to get nominated for best, boldest, fearless performance of 2013 which would be a crime. I understand that critics have decided already on the winner, and don’t want his upset even by the actual best actor, but this performance is the one that will be remembered forever.Just my 2 cents

Sam

Best Actress: Greta Gerwig. I absolutely fell in love with her during Frances Ha. I dont think Ive ever been able to root for a character so hard, so quickly.

Supporting Actress: Sarah Paulson! I cant believe she hasnt picked up more awards attention. “Sell Her!” kept reverberating in my head after the movie ended, she was truly terrifying.

Best Original Screenplay: Frances Ha. I immediately wanted to start this movie again the second it finished. The writing captures so well the daily struggles, and “what the hell will I do next?” questions that us struggling NY artists ask ourselves.

Best Cinematography and Best Production Design: The Conjuring. A refreshing horror movie utilizing practical effects to tell a thrilling haunted house story. The inverted camera making its way through the doorways of the home is just one stand out example of how camera work was used to disorient and heighten the tension.

moviefilm

I still have some many films to see, but here are my suggestions, anyway. I know, some of them will never happen, not even in the best dream of mine, but still they’re deserving.
Best Picture: Prisoners
Best Directing: Prisoners
Original Screenplay: The Way Way Back
Actor: Hugh Jackman – Prisoners
Actress: Amanda Seyfried – Lovelace
Supporting Actor: James Franco – Spring Breakers
Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo – Prisoners & Sharon Stone – Lovelace (she was perfect in that film!)
Art Direction: The Lone Ranger
Score: Saving Mr. Banks

dewaa

PLEASE SOMEBODY GIVE AMY ADAMS AN OSCAR!!!

melvel

No way is Amy Adams underrated. She gets cited a lot, it’s just that she doesn’t win the awards.

I think she’ll win her Oscar soon, I just fear it will be for the wrong role (ala Kate Winslet winning for The Reader when her work in Revolutionary Road was so much better).

That said, my only wish is for her to be nominated this year again. Winning is a long shot, but the more she gets nominated, the more they’ll be compelled to award her soon.

Michael

Best Picture: Fruitvale Station the house down. This movie is so powerful and beautiful, and a much better display of racial issues than the Butler, how that movie is being considered over this floors me. Also Before Midnight, I mean the movie is a masterpiece, and was universally acclaimed, to see it left out makes me sad. Also The Spectacular Now, Frances Ha, Short Term 12….anyone of those would be preferable over the Butler or Saving Mr. Banks.

Best Actor: The Best Actor Race is pretty much decided in my opinion. Bruce Dern, Robert Redford, Chitwetel Ejiofor, Matthew McCongahauy

Would love to see:
Jake Gyllenhaal/PRISONERS
Jonah Hill/Wolf of Wall Street (he steals the movie!) Great character work…
Hugh Jackman/PRISONERS (amazing…that car scene with Jake!)
Sally Hawkins/Blue Jasmine (She’s wonderful…not her fault that the film is ultimately not concerned with her, but she delivers…)
Forest Whitaker and David/The Butler (two great performances)
Captain Phillips for lead and supporting
Cate Blanchett/Blue Jasmine
Christian Bale & Amy Adams/American Hustle (Brilliant performances that shouldn’t be ignored. Jeremy Renner was also great).

Steve R

Amy Adams is brilliant in American Hustle, and is clearly lead. She should, however, go supporting for the well-deserved win. Remember, she has been nominated four times already, and is in danger of approaching Thelma Ritter-land. I am also hoping American Hustle gets best picture and screenplay wins.

Steve R

Add to Hustle best director for David O. Russell.

randall

We keep on forgetting about Harrison Ford for best supporting actor for ’42’.

LAXO

LOS ANGELES (January 2, 2014) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the motion picture and long-form television nominations for the 25th Annual Producers Guild Awards. The categories include: The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures; The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures; and The David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television. The documentary film category and other television category nominations were already announced by the Guild in late 2013.

The Producers Guild Awards Co-Chairs are Lori McCreary (INVICTUS, “Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman”) and Michael De Luca (CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, MONEYBALL, THE SOCIAL NETWORK).

The 2014 Producers Guild nominated films and television programs are listed below in alphabetical order by category, along with producers. The producers’ names listed for each nominated production are listed in alphabetical order and are not necessarily the proper order of credits.

YEIIIIHHH NO INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS OR ALL IS LOST, BUT STILL MISSING THE BUTLER OR AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY

Marissa Celnetti

Wolf of Wallstreet is a 3 hour sausage and sexist feast made for teenage and early 20’s frat boys or males who are at that level of immaturity. They deliberately bribed the MPAA to bring the rating down from NC-17 to R so all the 15 year old boys can see the film, glorify it and repeat lines from it. Big whoop that a woman in her 70’s wouldn’t enjoy it. It’s not made for most women regardless of their age nor for mature men. The women in the film are nothing but props and sex objects. If this movie had Michael Bay’s name as the director (same exact movie) no high minded critics would be defending it as though it’s high art. It’s brainless teenage boy entertainment.